Edwin a



(No Model.)

E. A. LELAND.

' BRAKE HOSE COUPLING.

Patented Feb. 19

n. PETERS, Pholp-Llmognphnr. Washington. 0.0;

STATES PATENT rFIcE.

EDWIl\ A. LELAND, OF-BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO LEONARD RICHARDSON, OF SAME PLACE.

BRAKE-HOSE COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 898,059, dated February 19, 1889.

Application filed October 18, 1888.

T aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. LELAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvem en ts in Brake-Hos e Oouplin gs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pipe or hose for conducting air or steam to operate the brakes of railway-cars; and the invention has for its object to provide novel means for detachably connecting the pipe or hose sections between and automatically unlock the sections and close the passa e of air or steam therethrough when separated.

The object of my invention I accomplish by the features of construction and combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the coupling as it appears in use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the coupling enlarged. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail section of one member of the coupling, showing the valve construction and the provision for the escape of the water of 0011- densation. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one member of the coupling.

In the drawings, the reference -numeral 1 denotes the hose connected to the steam or air pipe ordinarily employed in the estinghouse and other railway brakes. This hose is flexible, and is attached to the steam-pipe 2 beneath the car at each end of the latter. To the depending end of the hose 1 is attached a coupling, 3, having a steam or air passage, 4. At its end this coupling is so formed as to present a semi-cylindrical outer shell, 5, which partly covers or incloses an interior cylindrical section, (3, having its open end located part way between the extremity of the semi-cylindrical portion 5 and the shoulder 5, formed by the cutting away of the outer shell to leave the half-shell 5 and expose the inner cylindrical part, 6. The other section of the coupling is the exact counterpart of that described, having a similar half-shell, 5, and a like inner cylindrical section, 6. Upon the end of the interior section, 6, is seated a packing-ring, 7, having an interior countersink,

Serial No. 288,474. (No model.)

and through the packing is inserted an open thimble, 8, having a collar, 9, which seats upon the flange 10 of the packing-ring. The thimble 8 is screwed into the open end of the cylin drical section 6, drawing the packing-ring into place and holding it. A similar construction is adopted for the other coupling-section.

IVithin each member of the coupling is seated a plug-valve, 12, having an opening, 13. Upon the squared end of the valve-stem lat is mounted a lever, 15, by which the valve may be operated to open and close the steam or air passage 4. These levers are preferably provided with weights 16 cast upon their ends and depending therefrom, as shown in Fig. 1.

Upon each member of the coupling is formed or mounted a lug or boss, 17, having one end projecting over the shoulder 5 and toward the open "end of the coupling. This end of the lug is beveled off in such manner as to afford a guide to the engaging members of the coupling in uniting the parts. Upon its other or rearward end the lug is curved to present a cam-surface, 18, to a cam, 18, mounted on the valve-1ever 15, and this camsurface is in cross-section inwardly inclined at an angle to the axis of the coupling to receive the correspondingly-inclined surface of the cam 18, as shown in Fig. 3 whereby the engagement of the parts and all strain thereon will tend to draw them more perfectly into engagement. The relative curve of these engaging surfaces is such also that as the levers 15 are turned into parallellism with the couplingo1 nearly so-the cam projections 18 will draw upon the lugs 17 and force the open ends of the cylindrical sections 6 closely together. The plug-valve 12 may be provided 0 with a small aperture, 19, leading into the passage 13, and in the wall of the coupling, through that portion in which the valve is seated, is formed a minute opening, 20. Vhen the valve is turned to close the steam-exit, 5 there is formed a communication through the aperture 19, valve-opening 13, and passage 20, whereby the water of condensation may pass from the pipes. ,lVhile I regard this feature as desirable, I do not consider it an essential part of my invention.

In use I connect light chains, wires, or cords 21 to the ends of the levers, using for this purpose the projecting ends of the weights 16. The chains are connected to the platforms of their respective cars, their length being such as to swing the levers as the cars are separated and as the flexible hose-pipes drop to a vertical position, as shown in I i 1.

The coupling is easily and instantaneously united by bringing the two members together, the end oi each semi-cylindrical shell being guided by the ln 17 on the other part of the coupling, and thus easily brought against the shoulder 5. The construction is such that under culinarycouditious, and while the ears are not in motion, the parts will remain united without locking the levers. The operator is thus enabled to use both hands, it iieeessary, in securing the union.

In separatii'ig the earrhiges the latter are merely uncom iled and. drawn apart, whereupon the tension of the chains :21 releases both the loeking-levers l'rom the lugs 17, after which the members oi. the coupling are easily drawn asunder. As the levers are turned by the draft upon the chains, they close the valves 15, thereby shutting oil egress of steam or air from the pipes. Should the coupling separate before the valves are completely closed, the gravity of the separate members will prod uce sufficient tension on the chains 2| to swing the levers far enough to fully close the valves as the hose-pipes 1 drop to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1.

1y this invention 1 provide simple and autoi'uatie means whereby the llnake-eouplings are disconnected by merely pulling the cars apart, and the steam or air passages simultaneously closed. I also provide a coupling in which an open continuous passage is afiforded for the steam or air, the parts being eapable of attachment without special. knowledge or experience and in an instant of time.

'VVhat I claim is-- In a brake-hose coupling, two separable and similar members, each having a semi-cylindrical exterior shell, 5, i nelosing a cylii'idrieal section, 6, having its open end part way be tween the extremity of said shell and a shoulder, 5, formed by removing the exterior to leave the halt-shell, each member being also provided with a lug, l7, havin a beveled end extending over the shoulder 5 and a camsurface, 18, plug-valves 12, opening and closing the air and steam passages in. the parts, levers 15, mounted on the stems of said valves 12 and having weights 1(5 and cam projections 18, and chains or similar connections 21, uniting the free ends of said levers to the carplatforms, said chains being of such length as to draw taut as the cars separate before the hose-pipes are drawn straight, the whole being constructed and combined substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I alli x my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDlVIX' A. LELAND.

W itnesses:

CHAS. L. RienAI-msoiv, LEONARD B. (ASSlDY. 

